Laurie Lee Dovey
Executive Director
Professional Outdoor
Media Association
A
s a little girl growing up in the
50s and 60s, i fished with my parents, helped dad clean his firearms
before and after hunting season, waited
up the night of the white-tailed deer
opener in pennsylvania to see if Dad was
successful, and was in the woods daily,
simply playing.
unfortunately, during that time, women
in the hunting space were an oddity.
Hunting and shooting camps or clubs
were, in general, for men only. And for
young girls, and interest in guns or killing
game animals, was looked upon with
disdain, at best. So, fishing and simply
spending time outdoors were my connections to the wilds. Yes, i secretly wanted
to be Annie Oakley.
unbridled excitement, less pressure (not
desire) to perform, especially among gals
who hunt. i observe great openness and
dedication to learning and then mentoring and sharing.
But, truly what we bring to the outdoors
is the ability to change the lives of generations to come. As mothers, sisters, grandWe owe an amazing debt of gratitude to
mothers, girlfriends…we hold many of
those who came before us, for their courthe keys to the outdoors for future genage to get outdoors and push the enveerations.
lope beyond gardening, fishing, camping,
boating and hiking.
i became involved with
an outdoor organization
Today women in the outdoors are in
in Allentown, pa. called
hunting camps, on Facebook, Twitter and
Camp Compass (www.
television. They hold lead positions in
campcompass.org). it
shooting sports and in fishing tournament
brings inner city girls
trails. We are doing it ALL! i am so proud
and boys into the outof the societal change.
doors,
specifically
into the shooting and
Before i could understand the spiritual
hunting sports. Camp
connection, stress relief and the wonder
Compass graduates
of people relating to nature, i had to
even come back and
experience mY personal joy and passion
mentor.
for the outdoor adventure. Youth who
comprehend and learn to love nature,
it’s simple really, get
grow with great moral compasses and
involved in the outrespect for all living things.
doors. Don’t expect
every girl after a
The respect is perhaps the most resonatmorning or archery
ing message from days afield and on the
shooting, or a weekwater. At the age of 33, i joined my dad
end of camping, or
for our first hunt together. i will never
Saturday fishing, to
forget my Dad’s words, “Sit down and
become hard-core sportswomthink about this animal (mule deer);
en. make sure they have fun
where it lived; what it ate and where it
and teach them. Sharing with
traveled. revel in its life and what it’s
them the amazing role anglers
given you.” And, as he saw me choke a
and hunters play in protecting
little, he added, “if you ever quit getting
wildlife and habitat for them
that feeling (of some remorse) after you
and their children to enjoy,
kill an animal, quite hunting. You’re no
however they choose.
longer a hunter.”
Whether it’s the grandmother
in my opportunities to spend time
of modern women’s outdoor
outdoors with other gals, i see more
programs like Becoming and
Outdoor Woman, Women in the Outdoor
(nWTF), Women on Target (nrA), or the
wonderful Outdoor Women unlimited
adventure, every woman can find a way
into the outdoors. The path has been
blazed
There is no level of leadership in the
outdoor industry a woman cannot pursue. nor is there a level more important
that another! The only way an outdoor
woman can fail, especially herself, is by
not passing it on… Amen!